Chapter 550: Chapter 441, Bifurcation Pipeline_2

If Fang Hao wanted to continue receiving information in the future, he would need to pay additional rewards.

The same goes for the Cranial Rats. If they wanted to get supplies or help from Fang Hao, they would need to provide equivalent information or resources as compensation.

“We are naturally prepared,” said one of the Cranial Rats.

Another Cranial Rat next to it delivered a yellowed piece of paper filled with densely written names.

“So many?”

Fang Hao did a rough count and figured there were at least over forty people.

Little You told him that only about five or six people attended the Faceless Ones’ meetings, while the list provided by the Cranial Rats was several times that number.

“We are aware of everything in the surface world. We have countless eyes that observe everything from every dark, narrow corner. What you’ve heard may not be as real as what we’ve witnessed,” the Cranial Rat told him.

“Alright, I believe you guys,” said Fang Hao, tucking the list into his robe.

The Faceless Ones can call on people from various domains, clearly indicating there were far more people than Little You had seen.

The authenticity of the list provided by the Cranial Rat was, to some extent, higher.

The underground world doesn’t place as much emphasis on connections and power as the surface world does.

After tucking away the list, Fang Hao immediately thought of a question, “Lei Li on the list has run away. I need his location.”

“Sure, but it requires an exchange,” the Cranian Rat explained.

Fang Hao took out a bead and placed it on the ground, rolling it towards the Cranian Rat’s feet.

[Polluted Blood]

[Type: Blood]

(Description: The blood carries the secret gene modifications of the Demon Rat species.)

This was an item dropped upon killing a Demon Rat; he had gathered tens of thousands of these.

Only after promising to use the Demon Rat corpses did Fang Hao realize these beads could probably be of use to the Cranian Rats.

Within the area channel, those lords who completed the task of relocating the Demon Rats were also selling this Polluted Blood.

No one knew its specific use.

The price was therefore set according to rare materials.

“Each bead of Demon Rat’s Polluted Blood for ten pieces of information,” Fang Hao said.

The Cranial Rat picked up the bead that rolled towards it and sniffed it.

Then, it turned its head and nodded to the back.

Being a rat, it had a keen sense of smell and could detect the smell of the blood concealed in the bead, confirming that it was indeed Demon Rat’s blood.

“Ten is too many. We can consider each bead as three pieces of information,” responded the Cranial Rat, clenching the bead in its short forelimbs.

“Alright,” Fang Hao nodded.

The bargaining for ten pieces of information was just a tactic to increase the number of information tidbits.

Hadn’t expected it to really succeed anyway.

The Cranial Rat handed the bead to the rat on the side, turned its gaze to Fang Hao again and asked, “So, what information do you need?”

“The location of Lei Li, a weapon blueprint named ‘Swords of Absolution’, and a blonde woman named Adeline. I need this trio of information. If you manage to get a hold of some special blueprints and rare materials, I can also exchange these beads for them,” continued Fang Hao.

“Fang Hao, we’ve noted down your demands. Lei Li is located in the basement of a deserted warehouse in East City. As for the other two pieces of information, we’ll send them to your residence once we get them,” said the Cranial Rat, extending its clawed hand.

The deserted warehouse in East City.

Fang Hao memorized the location in his heart.

“Which warehouse in East City? There are quite a few of them, and it would be really troublesome to search them all,” persisted Fang Hao.

Indeed, there was a group of abandoned warehouses in East City.

It used to be an industrial area of the city, but was then deserted due to city expansion. Some of the warehouses were used to store miscellaneous items, while many others had been deserted for a long time and rarely visited by anyone.

If Lei Li was hiding there, it was indeed a good spot away from the public’s sight.

“From west to east, the fifth warehouse,” the Cranial Rat informed.

“Alright, our cooperation was pleasant. I won’t disturb you guys anymore,” said Fang Hao, preparing to turn around and leave.

But the Cranial Rat stopped him again and said directly, “Wait, you mentioned earlier that you need blueprints. We have one here, for five beads.”

Fang Hao, who was about to leave, stopped his steps and curiously looked again at the group of Cranial Rats in the center of the hall.

Blueprints in the hands of rats?

It can’t be a blueprint for something like a rat nest, can it?

If it is, could I perhaps set up an underground intelligence organization of my own?

Walking back to his original spot, he spoke to the cranial rats: “A trade is possible, but the amount of pearls that can be exchanged will depend on the level and function of the blueprint. Some things may be useful to you, but they may not necessarily have equivalent value to us humans.”

“Please wait, Fang Hao, human”

Fang Hao sat down on an old wooden box nearby, waiting for them to bring the blueprints.

Soon, a cranial rat returned, carrying a sheet of blueprint in its hand.

“Diversion-type underground pipeline construction blueprint (purple grade)”.

“Diversion-type underground pipelines”

“Category: Special buildings”

(Description: The setting of an underground diversion-type drainage system, with independent sewer and rainwater drainage systems that collect and drain sewage and rainwater separately).

The blueprint brought by the cranial rat was not for some rat nest, but for an underground drainage system.

It was now autumn, and rainy days were becoming more frequent.

At this time, a complete drainage system was indeed needed by Fang Hao for future city development and expansion.

So this blueprint was indeed very valuable to him.

“Good, I will take this blueprint. It costs five pearls, which I didn’t bring with me. I’ll give them to you when I get back,” Fang Hao said.

“That’s fine, when you get back, just ring this bell and we will come to collect the pearls. Our future trade will also be conducted in this way,” replied the cranial rat.

And then it handed over a small bell.

The bell was only the size of a thumb, the exterior was made of metal, but the clapper seemed to be made of bone.

“Good, for the time being we’ll leave it at that. After I go back, I’ll give you the pearls,” Fang Hao put the bell away and instructed: “For the next while, try to appear less at the temple during the day.”

The cranial rat nodded, signifying it understood.

Fang Hao didn’t linger and turned to head back the way he came.

He discreetly put away the demon doll, at the entrance to the temple’s backyard and planned to leave with everyone.

…

Just as they were leaving.

He saw the priestess Miriam coming towards him.

“Mr Fang Hao, how is the rat problem coming along?” Miriam asked, leaning on her cane and walking over to Fang Hao.

“It’s progressing nicely. We’ve cleaned out most of the rats underground, but the underground pipe system is too extensive to be able to kill them all off. However, they probably won’t dare to come to the surface to steal anymore,” Fang Hao replied.

“That’s good to hear, as long as these little things don’t come up to cause trouble,” Miriam said softly. And then her voice changed as she continued: “I heard there was a major incident at the City Lord’s mansion last night while I was not in town.”

It looked like Miriam had come mainly to inquire about what happened last night.

Miriam and her half-demon son lived outside the city.

She only heard about what happened last night this morning. As a guest at last night’s banquet, Fang Hao naturally knew more than she did.

Although Miriam did not care about the politics of the city, it did not mean that she didn’t want to know anything at all.

Keeping abreast of developments in the city was also a concern for the priestess of the temple.

After pondering for a moment, Fang Hao said: “Last night, the City Lord Aubrey collaborated with the faceless ones to carry out an assassination attempt on Lady Rebecca. Luckily, the guards by her side were skilled and repelled the faceless ones, and no danger ensued.”

What happened yesterday in the banquet hall was known by the city’s elites who were all revived afterwards.

Even if the news hadn’t gotten out yet, everyone in the city would know in a couple of days.

Since Miriam asked, it seemed better to simply tell her.

When she heard that Aubrey had dared to attempt to assassinate Rebecca, Miriam could not hide her disbelief.

If it were not for the fact that this really happened yesterday, she might not even believe Fang Hao.

“Then what about Aubrey?” Miriam continued to ask.

“He has probably been arrested. The city will be in chaos over the next few days, so it’s best not to have people from the temple wandering around,” Fang Hao replied as he and his party reached the back door.

After saying goodbye to Miriam, he returned to his own residence.